By Scott Shephard
Saw the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him walk right through
Now security they did not see him
They just hovered ‘round his tomb
But there’s a pretty little thing waiting for the king
Down in the Jungle Room
Marc Cohn - “Walking In Memphis”
In today’s post - compared to yesterday’s - I jump from the sacred to the profane. Or from the profane to the sacred depending on how you see Elvis. Many revere him. A few even think he’s still alive.
Me? I was just a little too young - and too much of a Beatles fan - to be a fan of Elvis. But I do admire his talent and his profound influence on American culture. And it was because of this that Deb and I made Graceland a must-see stop on our brief visit to Memphis. After the White House, we were told it is the second most visited house in the United States.
Was it worth the price? Absolutely. If given a choice between Faulkner’s novels and Elvis’ music, what would I choose? I’m not telling.
(PS: Come back tomorrow and, along with other things, I’ll take you to the Jungle Room in Elvis’ Graceland mansion.)
Canon R5